An enemy of Christianity

From the title of this post, it would be easy to assume I am referring to none other than satan. However, even though he is truly enemy #1 of all that is holy and loved by God, it is not him I refer to in this instance. In this case I am referring to misguided Christians or those ‘in name only’ (God knows them, so I need not concern myself with trying to identify them). I write about the people who seem to be the modern equivalent of the Pharisees and Sadducees — those who profess to know the mind of God and offer themselves as chief prosecution, judge and jury. Some of our brothers and sisters like to cast judgement on others for the version of Bible they read, the type of worship and songs they sing, some doctrine they may hold or some event from their past. Please don’t get me wrong, I think that doctrine is important (some more than others) and I believe that Jesus calls us to a higher standard of living (THROUGH HIS GRACE).

For by grace are ye saved through faith; and that not of yourselves: it is the gift of God: Not of works, lest any man should boast. For we are his workmanship, created in Christ Jesus unto good works, which God hath before ordained that we should walk in them. – Ephesians 2:8-10 (KJV)

The Internet is filled with pages by people (some of whom I am sure are well-meaning and interested in our salvation primarily) who preach a rigid, legalistic path to God -full of dangerous pitfalls that can easily lead a believer away from God and His heaven and damn them for all eternity. Any idea of grace and eternal security is replaced with rules and regulations.

Think not that I am come to destroy the law, or the prophets: I am not come to destroy, but to fulfil. – Matthew 5:17 (KJV)

Do you fellowship with other believers that are open and embracing of all who claim Jesus as their Lord and Saviour, or only to a select few who teach a narrow, rigid path of rules and regulations? If a person knows the Lord and has received the gift of the Holy Spirit as a result of accepting that grace, won’t they wish to do the right thing and not require constant, mean-spirited admonishment to get there?